Swenson Golf Course: Something Worth Celebrating
This year, on March 26, Stockton’s beautiful Swenson Park Golf Course will celebrate its 70th birthday with a swinging party that promises to be a day-long, don’t-miss event.
An 18-hole scramble tournament is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Scramble-style golf has relaxed and informal rules; typically, a team of two to four players all take a swing at their ball. Whichever ball is in the most advantageous position becomes the starting point for everyone to take their second swing. This is repeated until someone gets their ball in the cup. The team receives one score and the goal is to beat the other teams.
After the scramble, dinner and drinks are planned. At 6:30, golfers will be treated to a concert headlined by JFB, a seven-piece band featuring Swenson Park Golf Course’s general manager, Joe Smith, on vocals and guitar. JFB has a little something for everyone, Joe explained. “It will be a lot of classic rock covers, a lot of Fleetwood Mac and a little bit of everything,” he said. “It’s very eclectic.”
Benefit for The First Tee
While it will all be fun and games, merry-makers can rest assured knowing the proceeds generated from the event will go to The First Tee of San Joaquin. The First Tee is a national organization dedicated to teaching the game of golf to children from all walks of life and socioeconomic circumstances. They believe that through golf, young people can learn important values such as honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and good judgment.
Swenson Park Golf Course is home to the only junior golf league in the county and home to The First Tee of San Joaquin. In 2019, PGA member, youth golf coach and aforementioned guitar player Joe Smith received the Game-Changer Award, which is given by The First Tee to those who are helping to grow the sport.
Finding a Safe Space
There are endless reasons kids need safe places to go with safe adults to talk to; the First Tee of San Joaquin gives places of respite to kids. Golf professionals such as Joe work with kids to teach them values they can apply today, tomorrow and for the rest of their lives and have fun doing it.
In a bit of serendipity, Swenson Park Golf Course owes its existence to the concept of children’s physical education. In 1917, the State of California passed a law making it mandatory for public schools to include physical education in their curricula. In 1918, Burt E. Swenson moved to Stockton from Wisconsin, which, given the distance and the era, must have been a harrowing journey.
Perseverance and Dedication
Swenson was a key part of making the physical education program in Stockton a reality. He became the city’s director of recreation and held the position for 36 years. He and his wife were very committed to finding and developing recreation areas for children. In 1952 the city of Stockton dedicated 200 acres to be developed into Swenson Park Golf Course. Designed by prolific golf course architect Jack Fleming, the stunning, park-like course with its two-hundred-year-old Valley oaks opened to golfers of all skill levels.
So, while Swenson Park Golf Course may be turning only 70, from Burt Swenson to Joe Smith, history counts more than a century of people committed to helping create safe places for children to experience outdoor recreation in Stockton. That is definitely worth celebrating.
For more information, visit stocktongolfcourses.com, firstteesanjoaquin.org and firsttee.org.
